The United States stopped the import of avocado after an attack against inspectors in Michoacán

MEXICO CITY (apro).- The United States government temporarily stopped the import of Mexican avocado, since last June 15, after community members from Aranza, Michoacán, detained and beat two American inspectors who were verifying the quality of the product. .

After the altercation, the Joe Biden government, through the Department of Agriculture (USDA), notified the Association of Avocado Exporters in Mexico last Friday night that it would suspend all operations in Michoacán. .

“As a result of the incident with our inspectors, upon instructions from the regional security officer of the Embassy, ​​it has been decided to suspend all operations in the State,” the US government notified.

The United States also grows avocados, and American inspectors working in Mexico ensure that exported avocados do not carry diseases that could harm American crops. The matter did not stop with the blockade of Mexican avocados, since the Biden administration issued a security alert about Michoacán:

“Due to recent security incidents in Aranza, Michoacán, the government reminds US citizens not to travel to the State of Michoacán,” the federal administration suggested, while advising its fellow citizens who work in the area to take refuge.

Through a statement, the Association of Avocado Producers and Packers Exporters of Mexico (APEAM) reported that the United States blockades began on June 15 and could be extended for a couple more weeks.

Likewise, he indicated that all activities of the export program will be suspended, until further notice, including the harvest, reception, processing and shipment of avocados to the United States. The association asked producers to take precautions to prevent fruit intended for export from being diverted to the national market.

For his part, the state governor, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, assured this Tuesday in local media that the United States inspectors “never took any risk” and added that he is working with the US authorities to resume exports soon.

“I hope that with all the measures that we are taking together with the North American embassy in the next few hours, the export of this valuable product to the United States can be reopened,” he declared.